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Abstract #16968 Published in IGR 9-1
Dietary omega 3 fatty acids decrease intraocular pressure with age by increasing aqueous outflow
Nguyen CT; Bui BV; Sinclair AJ; Vingrys AJInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2007; 48: 756-762
PURPOSE: To determine whether there is an association between dietary omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acid intake, age, and intraocular pressure (IOP) caused by altered aqueous outflow. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either ω-3-sufficient (omega-3+ ) or ω-3-deficient (ω-3- ) diets from conception. The diets had 7% lipid content. The ω-3+ diet contained safflower, flaxseed, and tuna oils (5.5:1.0:0.5), and the omega-3- diet contained safflower oil only. Intraocular pressure was measured at 5 to 40 weeks of age under light anesthesia (ω-3+ , n = 39; omega-3- , n = 48). Aqueous outflow was determined at 45 weeks in a subgroup of animals (omega-3+ ), n = 15; ω-3- , n = 22) using pulsed infusion. Ciliary body tissues (n = 6 per group) were assayed for fatty acid content by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography in both diet groups. RESULTS: Animals raised on ω-3+ ) diets had a 13% decrease in IOP at 40 weeks of age (13.48 ± 0.32 mmHg vs. 15.46 ± 0.29 mmHg; P < 0.01). When considered as a change in IOP relative to 5 weeks of age, the ω-3+ group showed a 23% decrease (P < 0.001). This lower IOP in the ω-3+ diet group was associated with a significant increase (+56%; P < 0.001) in outflow facility and a decrease in ocular rigidity (-59%; P < 0.001). The ω-3+ group showed a 3.3 times increase in ciliary body docosahexaenoic acid (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing dietary ω-3 reduces IOP with age because of increased outflow facility, likely resulting from an increase in docosanoids. This indicates that dietary manipulation may provide a modifiable factor for IOP regulation. However, further studies are needed to consider whether this can modify the risk for glaucoma and can play a role in treatment of the disease.
Dr. C.T. Nguyen, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Classification:
2.6.2 Outflow (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma > 2.6 Aqueous humor dynamics)
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)
3.7 Biochemistry (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
11.4 Prostaglandins (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
